Ford Expedition vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, with a long hood and low ground clearance, drawing inspiration from the classic Seville Elegante of the early 1980s. The LYRIQ featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, adorned with lighting effects, varied in design across trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's imposing presence was enhanced by its 22-inch wheels, while the wraparound taillights and steeply raked glass window added to its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

The 2025 Ford Expedition, while prioritizing function over form, still managed to present an attractive design. Its bold grille, framed by horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights, spanned the entire width of the fascia. The vehicle's profile was simple, with a distinct character line running from the headlights to the taillights. The Expedition offered a range of wheel designs and sizes, and its rear featured a two-tone paint job, thanks to a black tailgate. The new split-gate design of the tailgate provided practical benefits, such as preventing luggage from spilling out and offering a convenient resting spot. Inside, the Expedition's minimalist design was evident, with touch-sensitive trackpads on the steering wheel and climate controls housed in the touchscreen. Despite its size, the Expedition was easy to maneuver and offered a comfortable and quiet ride, making it well-suited for long highway drives.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, did not deliver a particularly sporty driving experience. It excelled on highways, offering a calm and poised ride with a focus on long-distance comfort. The dual-motor powertrain in the test car produced 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both powertrains utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with Cadillac claiming a range of 505 kilometres for rear-wheel drive and 494 km for all-wheel drive. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. While braking was strong, the vehicle's weight raised concerns about brake durability during hard use.

The 2025 Ford Expedition, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, offered impressive performance for a full-size SUV. The standard engine produced 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, while the Tremor trim featured a high-output version with 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. Despite its weight, the Expedition's powertrain easily handled highway speeds, providing a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension ensured a stable ride over rough terrain. The Tremor trim, designed for off-road adventures, featured increased ground clearance, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and skid plates. However, the Expedition's size limited its off-road capabilities. Fuel economy was a downside, with the Expedition consuming 17.0 L/100 km during testing, compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe with a more efficient diesel engine.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty motorized charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space and exposed valuables. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch interaction. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in terms of towing capacity and interior space. It boasted a maximum towing capacity of 4,350 kilograms, surpassing competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe. Inside, the Expedition offered ample cargo space, with 611 litres behind the third row in the standard model, expanding to 1,022 litres in the Expedition Max. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided 3,072 litres of space, while the Expedition MAX offered 3,485 litres. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads on the steering wheel and climate controls integrated into the touchscreen. While some may appreciate the high-tech approach, others may find it less intuitive.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen divided into three sections, with the leftmost portion touch-enabled for various controls. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, offering simple menus and high-quality graphics. The available Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving capabilities, with a helpful coloured bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Ford Expedition's standout feature was its 24-inch driver information display, which included a Google Maps projection and a selectable widget. The steering wheel's flattened "squircle" shape accommodated the display but felt awkward. The 13.2-inch touchscreen display, part of the Ford Digital Experience, featured a Google-based operating system with built-in Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play store. However, full functionality required an active cellular data plan, with subscription options available after the initial complimentary year.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped with standard safety features such as forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, the LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system. It had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2025 Ford Expedition had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS ratings were based on a previous-generation model. Despite this, the Expedition offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Ford's BlueCruise 1.4 hands-free driving tech was available on all trim levels, with subscription options after a 90-day trial.